CAREFORCE: Caring Through the Miles

By Joan Leotta

Thomas in front of his father, Chris, with Bob & Kathryn Jack of CAREFORCE.

Everyone in the Sorenson family rides horses. In fact, the family enjoys many outdoor activities around their Sheridan, Wyoming home. But it took a ride on an airplane, made possible by two dedicated volunteers, to allow five-year-old Thomas Sorenson to be able to mount up for the first time.

Before he turned one, Thomas developed cancer in his left leg. Amputation saved the boy's life, but made it difficult for him to join in the family's activities, including riding. When the family learned about the possibility of obtaining a pediatric prosthetic leg, the only factor stopping them was that the medical facility was far away, in Houston, Texas.

A small organization called CAREFORCE made it possible for Thomas and a parent to fly to Houston—twice—for prosthetic legs to fit his growing body.

Thomas with Kathy Jack of CAREFORCE. Note artistry on Thomas' prosthethic leg

Families like the Sorensons, with extraordinary medical needs due to injuries, illness or disability, often find that their long and expensive journey to wellness will involve flying to another location for all or part of needed medical care. To help make this possible, CAREFORCE has, since 1986, worked to fund flights for medical necessity. Over the years, this Houston-based organization has flown thousands of people in the United States and throughout the world from their homes to the distant locations of vital medical care. Many, like the Sorensons, would not be able to get the care they need without the assistance of CAREFORCE.

CAREFORCE Formation

Many airline employees enter the business for the perk of free air travel. In the early 1980s, two wives of Continental Airlines pilots were enjoying free airfare for a weekend in London when their conversation turned to the plight of others who needed to travel, but could not afford it. The women were especially concerned for those who needed medical care in distant locations.

The women did not forget about their concern when they returned home. Instead, they began to work the phones, calling the wives of other airline pilots and enlisting the aid of their spouses' employer, Continental Airlines. Continental provided the women with enough legal and air expertise to help the organization take root.

Melia Reed, current Executive Director of CAREFORCE, was one of the original group. Says Reed, “CAREFORCE received 501(3)(c) status in January 1986, with the assistance of Continental's legal department. In fact, the first name of the organization was Continental Airlines Pilot's Wives Association. The purpose has been the same since the beginning—to provide airline transportation to people who have to travel due to critical medical or personal situations.” The organization, which has always operated independent of Continental, became known as CAREFORCE in 1990.

Although several organizations provide medically-necessary travel services, CAREFORCE does so with just two hard-working persons whose full-time volunteer efforts make these lifesaving trips possible.

How CAREFORCE Operates

CAREFORCE receives referrals from the medical community, encouraging doctors to target patients who could use their services. Requests must detail the medical condition of the patient and confirm treatment dates. “We require that the person receiving the flight must be in financial need,” says Bob Jack, a CAREFORCE associate who has been working with the organization for 16 years.

He adds that while the group does not have specific forms about financial status, they generally have no problems in determining the need of potential recipients. “We are used to screening applicants after doing this for twenty years,” he says. In general, a person can receive no more than one free trip—including fare for the patient and one accompanying person—per year. For children like Thomas Sorenson, who need to be refitted for prosthetics as their body grows, the cost of nearly-annual trips adds up.

The volunteer staff of two work 30 to 40 hours per week finding connections for the passengers in need. The organization books flights on Continental, but also takes advantage of the Continental Donor pass program, which allows them to reserve on Continental's partner airlines as well.

As with any flight reservations, people should make their requests as far in advance as possible. “The greater advance notice, the better the easier it is for us to match dates and itinerary,” says Reed. During the heavy travel months near the holidays and in the summer, it is harder to make the flights.

Donations of air miles and certificates from Continental provide the tickets. Continental's OnePass frequent flyer members donate miles through the airline website, which promotes the program. Continental employees also often volunteer their time to support CAREFORCE.

Handling Requests

Although Reed and Jack work out of their own homes on opposite side of Houston, they have developed different specialties in handling cases so that their full-time volunteer work does not overlap.

Jack and Reed work through General Reservations and other departments within Continental, often devoting several hours to find just the right itinerary to get patients to their appointments on time. “For instance,” explains Jack, “Thomas Sorenson's flight involved Northwest and Continental flights.”

The volunteer-run organization's limited resources forced a decision to drop its 501(3)(c) status in 2000. Says Reed, “We dropped the non-profit status in order to apply all of our time to finding flights rather than fill in paperwork.”

Getting the Word out

When the organization began, the biggest challenge was getting the word out. Houston based, the volunteers began with Houston's Anderson Cancer Center, then branched out to Texas Children's Hospital. “We rely heavily on the screening protocols used by the medical professionals,” says Reed. “We make a point of being very clear that the cases involved must be critical and must need our full help to afford the flight. We are not a discounting service for the airfares.”

The number of people helped or miles flown per month vary greatly. Reed says that thousands have been helped, but she and Jack no longer spend time compiling those figures. Numbers don't matter to them. What matters is the impact that the group has on each individual who uses the service.

How to Get Involved

On the Continental Airlines website, OnePass frequent flyer members can donate miles to the program. To initiate a request for use of air miles, call 281-261-6626.

Other Resources

Other sites that offer assistance with airfare in case of medical need can be found through the Rare Cancer Alliance travel page. The National Patient Travel Center also offers such assistance through its website or helpline: 1-800-296-1217.

Edited by Mary-Louise Piner.